Referees making it to the Big House is a big deal, too

Chris Cooksey officiates during the Class B Boys semi-final game of the state high school basketball tournament between Big Pasture and Arnett at the State Fair Arena., Friday, March 1, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Jason Frantz and Chris Cooksey walked onto the Big House hardwood, just like their fathers before them.

They had worked hard and dreamed long to make the state basketball tournament at State Fair Arena.

Frantz got a little choked up during the traditional playing of “Oklahoma!” All the times Frantz saw his dad clapping along. Now he was standing in the same spot, clapping to the same Oklahoma anthem.

And then Cooksey and Frantz pulled out their whistles and blew the game into action.

Those striped shirts that everybody screams at? Those guys bombarded with “You're terrible!” and “Ref, you suck!”? They want to make the state tournament as badly as do players and coaches.

Frantz and Cooksey made their Big House debuts Friday morning, calling the Big Pasture-Arnett Class B semifinal. And had the time of their lives.

“It was a blast,” Cooksey said.

Cooksey grew up in Lawton and lives there still. Frantz grew up in the Panhandle; he lives in Balko. Both came to the state tournament as kids, as John Cooksey and Steve Frantz called state tournament games. John Cooksey, for example, called the 1991 first-round showdown matching Ryan Minor and Hammon against Bryant Reeves and Gans.

“I thought they did good,” said John Cooksey, who after the game stopped by the officials' dressing room to congratulate his son. “Kind of hard to describe, having officiated for 25 years, to see your kids do that, it's a blessing. Not very many get to come here. To know you're one of the best at what you do …”

Making the state tournament isn't easy. Mike Whaley, who oversees officiating for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, has 19 observers statewide. First semester, they talent hunt, trying to spot good officials. Second semester, Whaley sends his observers to specific games to critique.

Coaches send in a list of 15 officials they recommend. Officials send in their schedule availability and schools they would like to avoid, because of potential conflicts of interest.

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,...